Mark Twain

He is now rising from affluence to poverty.

The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he knows too little.

Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.

I take my only exercise acting as a pallbearer at the funerals of my friends who exercise regularly.

The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain’t so.

The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.

But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

He gains everyone’s approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful.

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.

The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.

If we are but sure the end is right, we are too apt to gallop over all bounds to compass it; not considering the lawful ends may be very unlawfully attained.

Every artist was first an amateur.

Wisdom is better than silver and gold. I was hopeless, now I’m on hope road.

The stars are the apexes of what triangles!

People die of fright and live of confidence.

This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.

In every great time there is some one idea at work which is more powerful than any other, and which shapes the events of the time and determines their ultimate issues.

If a man constantly aspires is he not elevated?

Illusion is the first of all pleasures.

For a crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

I have found men to be more kind than I expected, and less just.